Wonder Woman becomes biggest opening by a female director
The DC origins story has overtaken Fifty Shades of Grey for the US box office record
Wonder Woman has enjoyed a superpowered start at the box office, smashing the record for the largest US opening weekend ever from a female director.
DC’s Extended Universe film – starring Gal Gadot and directed by Patty Jenkins – earned $101 million over the weekend in the US, along with critical acclaim (and a 93% score on Rotten Tomatoes).
The super origin story has taken the record from Fifty Shades of Grey, whose female director Sam Taylor-Johnson helped the film rake in $85.2 million during its 2015 opening.
However, Jenkins’ film only has the record for the largest US opening: at the worldwide box-office, Fifty Shades of Grey retains the title having grossed $242 million compared to Wonder Woman’s opening $223 million.
The UK figures for the opening weekend haven’t yet been released, with Fifty Shades’ £35m takings Wonder Woman’s target to beat.
But for the moment there’s still plenty for the DC camp to celebrate. Wonder Woman is still the first major superhero film to be directed by a female, and it’s women who helped the movie to box office success – more than half, 52%, of the film's US audience this weekend were female.
AND it’s the film that gifted us that goosebump-inducing guitar riff…
We don our diadems in your direction, Diana.
Wonder Woman is in cinemas now
